Fast, Reliable Air Quality & Ventilation Across Altadena
Air quality and ventilation work in Altadena now means rebuilding around fire damage and stricter county codes. Most systems we’re called to either survived the January 2025 Eaton Fire with compromised ductwork or are going into new construction on scorched lots. We’re Stonegate Heating & Air California, and our Air Quality & Ventilation team has been handling exactly this situation for Altadena homeowners since the fire. Jason Trent, our owner and Field Supervisor, personally oversees every job. We’ve got 16 years in business, nearly 500 reviews at 4.7 stars, and we know the LA County permit process that trips up contractors from Pasadena. Call (855) 467-1888 for a free estimate.
Why Stonegate Heating & Air California Is Altadena’s Preferred Air Quality & Ventilation Company
Altadena homeowners don’t have room for learning curves right now. The Eaton Fire changed what “air quality” means here, and we’ve been on the ground since day one. Our 499 verified reviews at 4.7 stars include work across the 91001 and 91003 ZIP codes, from lower foothill Craftsmans to ranch homes off Lincoln Avenue and New York Drive.
Jason Trent doesn’t run this company from an office. He’s Field Supervisor, which means he’s on your job site checking duct sealing, filter rack integrity, and ERV airflow balance. That matters in Altadena, where LA County inspectors are scrutinizing post-fire rebuilds more closely than standard permits.
We’re certified on nine major brands — Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard — so whatever equipment survived in your home or whatever your builder spec’d, we can service it. No “we don’t work on that brand” dead ends.
From a single-room mini split with dedicated ventilation to whole-house ERV systems in new construction, we handle the full scope. Emergency HVAC is available when indoor air quality becomes unlivable.
Our Air Quality & Ventilation Services in Altadena
Air Filtration Systems
Standard MERV-8 filters fail fast in Altadena. Santa Ana winds funnel down the San Gabriel Mountain canyons and load your indoor air with smoke particulate that bypasses basic filtration in minutes. We install MERV-13 and HEPA-rated systems sized to your duct capacity, with sealed filter racks that don’t leak around the edges. For post-Eaton Fire rebuilds, we regularly spec high-efficiency particulate filtration to meet LA County’s stricter air quality standards for homes in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. A typical air filtration upgrade in Altadena runs $150–$650 depending on whether we’re retrofitting an existing media cabinet or installing a complete new filtration stage.
ERV/HRV Systems
Energy Recovery Ventilators and Heat Recovery Ventilators are the right choice for Altadena’s climate. At 1,100 to 2,000 feet elevation, you run 5–10°F cooler than Pasadena and see real winter heating loads, so an ERV that transfers both moisture and temperature between exhaust and intake air cuts your conditioning costs year-round. Post-fire, ERVs also maintain positive pressure that helps keep ash and embers from infiltrating through envelope leaks. We’ve installed ERV/HRV systems in new construction throughout Altadena’s rebuild zones. ERV/HRV installation in Altadena typically costs $3,500–$7,500, with fire-zone new construction often landing at the higher end due to extended duct runs and ember-resistant exterior vent terminations.
Dehumidifier Installation
Altadena’s winter temperature swings create condensation problems that flatland Pasadena doesn’t see. Cold overnight lows in the foothills mean warm, moist indoor air hits dew point on older single-pane windows and poorly insulated ductwork in crawl spaces. We install whole-house dehumidifiers integrated with your central system, not standalone units that fight your thermostat. This is especially critical in post-fire rebuilds where tighter envelope construction traps moisture that older Altadena homes used to breathe out through gaps and cracks.
UV Air Purifier Installation
UV-C lamps mounted at the coil and in the return duct kill mold and bacteria that thrive in Altadena’s mixed-humidity environment. After the Eaton Fire, we’ve seen accelerated biological growth in systems where homeowners ran cooling continuously during hot Santa Ana events while ash blocked outdoor condenser airflow. UV purification adds a layer that filtration alone doesn’t provide.
Humidifier Installation
Forced-air heating in Altadena’s dry winter months drops relative humidity into the teens, damaging woodwork and irritating respiratory systems already stressed by post-fire particulate exposure. We install bypass and steam humidifiers with proper drainage — critical in homes where original floor drains have been abandoned or capped.
Ventilation Installation
New construction in Altadena now requires mechanical ventilation that older homes never had. We design systems that meet ASHRAE 62.2 standards and LA County’s post-fire amendments, with makeup air calculations that account for range hoods, dryers, and fireplaces common in Altadena’s rebuilt homes.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Altadena
We stock parts and have factory training on Carrier, Bryant, and American Standard air quality components — media filters, ERV cores, UV lamps, and humidifier pads — which means faster turnaround for Altadena customers who can’t wait on shipping. Our technicians also work on Daikin ventilation equipment, increasingly spec’d in local new construction for its compact ERV units that fit tight attic spaces. Whatever brand your builder or previous contractor installed, we’ve got the manual and the parts. Nine brands, one team.
Common Air Quality & Ventilation Problems We See in Altadena Homes
- Original ductwork collapsing after ash infiltration. Pre-1960s Altadena homes with galvanized steel or early flex duct often fail structurally when Eaton Fire ash and debris get drawn through return leaks. The duct lining delaminates or the wire coil corrodes. Repair isn’t possible; full replacement with sealed, insulated ductwork is the only fix that passes LA County inspection.
- MERV-8 filters clogging in under 48 hours during Santa Ana events. Homeowners who haven’t upgraded filtration since the fire find themselves changing filters weekly and still seeing dust accumulation. The filter media loads so heavily that airflow drops and the blower motor strains. We upgrade to deeper pleat MERV-13 or add a pre-filter stage.
- Unpermitted bathroom and kitchen exhaust modifications failing rebuild inspection. Altadena’s unincorporated status means LA County Building and Safety enforces duct sizing, termination, and makeup air requirements that DIY or handyman work rarely meets. We remove the old work and install code-compliant ventilation from scratch.
- Heat pump cold-climate performance falling short in upper foothills. Altadena’s overnight lows near freezing in winter mean standard heat pumps without auxiliary heat or proper defrost cycles can’t maintain setpoint. We see this in new construction where builders spec’d equipment for Pasadena’s milder climate, not Altadena’s elevation.
Pricing for Air Quality & Ventilation in Altadena, CA
Here are the numbers we see on actual Altadena jobs. These include LA County permit fees and the additional labor that post-fire conditions often require.
| Service | Typical Range in Altadena |
|---|---|
| Air Filtration upgrade (MERV-13/HEPA) | $150–$650 |
| ERV/HRV Installation | $3,500–$7,500 |
| Whole-House Dehumidifier | $1,200–$3,200 |
| UV Air Purifier (coil + duct) | $400–$1,100 |
| Humidifier Installation | $350–$950 |
| Ventilation System (new construction) | $2,800–$6,500 |
Post-Eaton Fire rebuilds often run toward the higher end. Scorched attic cavities need remediation before we can install anything. Ember-resistant exterior terminations cost more than standard vents. And LA County’s expedited permit track still requires full documentation, which we handle as part of our scope. We don’t quote over the phone for fire-damaged homes — we need to see the structure. Estimates are free. Call (855) 467-1888.
We Also Serve Cities Near Altadena
Our crews work throughout the San Gabriel Valley foothills. We regularly handle air quality and ventilation jobs in Pasadena, where city permits (not county) apply; La Cañada Flintridge, with its own elevation and fire-zone challenges; East Pasadena; and San Marino. Each has distinct permitting and climate factors, but our Air Quality & Ventilation expertise covers them all. Altadena’s LA County process is the most complex of the bunch, and we’ve got it down.
Serving Altadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Altadena area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs — Air Quality & Ventilation in Altadena
Yes. LA County now requires high-efficiency particulate filtration in new and replacement HVAC systems within Altadena’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which covers the entire community. We install MERV-13 minimum filtration with sealed filter racks and often add HEPA bypass systems for homeowners with respiratory sensitivity. The Eaton Fire proved that standard equipment doesn’t protect against smoke intrusion at the scale Altadena experienced. Call (855) 467-1888 and we’ll spec the right filtration for your rebuild.
In most cases, no. Ash and smoke particulate penetrate duct liner and corrode metal in ways that cleaning can’t reverse. We’ve opened supposedly “cleaned” ducts in Altadena homes and found ash packed into flex duct corrugations and galvanized steel rusted from the inside out. LA County inspectors are flagging reused fire-exposed ductwork. We replace with new, sealed, insulated ductwork as standard practice. The only way to know for certain is inspection — we offer free estimates.
An ERV with high-MERV filtration and positive-pressure capability. Altadena’s elevation means real heating loads in winter and cooling loads during Santa Ana wind events, so the ERV’s energy transfer saves money year-round. The positive-pressure feature helps prevent ember and ash infiltration through envelope leaks during fire events. We size ERVs to ASHRAE 62.2 plus LA County’s post-fire amendments, which are stricter than pre-2025 standards. ERV/HRV installation in Altadena runs $3,500–$7,500.
Yes, and this is where Altadena differs from every neighboring city. Because Altadena is unincorporated, all HVAC and ventilation permits route through LA County Department of Public Works/Building and Safety, not a city hall. The fee schedules, inspection workflows, and post-fire expedited tracks are entirely distinct from Pasadena’s municipal system. Contractors accustomed to Pasadena permits often submit wrong forms or miss required documentation, delaying projects by weeks. We handle LA County permitting as part of every job. Call (855) 467-1888 to get started without the red-tape delays.
A whole-house dehumidifier integrated with your central HVAC system typically costs $1,200–$3,200 installed in Altadena. The range depends on your home’s square footage, whether we need to add a dedicated return, and if your existing ductwork can handle the additional static pressure. Post-fire rebuilds with tighter envelopes often need larger capacity units than the original home would have required. We assess during our free estimate and size accordingly. Call (855) 467-1888 to schedule.
Written by Jason Trent, Owner and Field Supervisor at Stonegate Heating & Air California, serving Altadena since 2009.